D, Bruckman, and Bruckman's three children (two of which were fathered by D) lived together. The couple had argued for several days, in part over Bruckman's involvement with a mutual friend, Bruckman stated her intention to leave and began gathering her clothes. D tried to persuade Bruckman to stay; when his efforts failed, D stabbed Bruckman repeatedly, and her screams brought the children to the bedroom. The children witnessed some of the attack. D chased the children back to their bedrooms and continued his attack on Bruckman. D inflicted sixty-one wounds (including forty-nine stab wounds) upon Bruckman, and she died. D was convicted of murder and sentenced to sixty years imprisonment. D appealed contending an instruction for voluntary manslaughter should have been given.